8-10-2016 SALEM. OREGON

(One more thing.  We noticed that the locals pronounce Yreka two different ways.  I have always said, “why-REEK-ah” as many do.  But we notice that some folks say the “y” as if it were an “i” prounouced like “ee,” as in “ee-REEK-ah.”  Just thought you’d like to know this important factoid.)

We spent about 48 hours in the Peoples’ Republic of Oregonistan, specifically Salem where Mike (#2 son) and Jenn live.  We’ve been lucky to see Mike for the second time this year, as his job running the music store and playing in the Mike DeLaMare Quartet keep him very, very busy.  But we four found time after hours to share a few laughs over cocktails and dinner for two nights.  On the second night, Mike and Jenn took us to one of their favorite digs, the Union Barrel, a beautiful place with a 50 feet long one piece heavy wooden bar and matching polished wood back bar.  When the proprietors moved them to their places here, they had to close the streets! 

Jenn, Mike, Rob and the fluffy one

The Union Barrel is famous for its varieties of whiskeys and bourbons which they serve as a flight, i.e., in small glasses on a plank of wood.  Mike and Jenn are the whiskey pros, we don’t know from whiskey.  They pointed out the various special qualities of each one.  I took a couple of sips and felt my whole head heat up!  The Italian ristorante, Christo’s, that was the follow-up serves dangerously delicious food, red wine and chianti.  I recommend the veal marsala!  Pizza Boy had, you guessed it, pizza.

We had a free day to nose about and started the day with lunch at the Flight Deck, located at the Salem General Aviation Airport.  We classified the food as five star and ate as we watched the airplanes take off and land outside the big picture windows.  Hanging from the ceiling are big model airplanes that fly, or did at one time.  What a cool place!

The Flight Deck!

Pretty cool place with excellent food!

Next, we decided to visit the capitol building in Salem.  We already have this one in the bag but we wanted, one more time, to see the quote etched in white stone on the front of the  building, just to be sure we read it right the first time we were here.  Yup, we read it right, “… for the common welfare and the sharing of benefits justly apportioned.”  Huh?  We notice that no one takes credit (or blame) for this quote.  We decided it was either Alinsky, Obama or Marx (not Groucho).  Isn’t that just special?    Moved, we shared a justly apportioned group hug.

Down at the city park, there is a building that houses a beautiful carousel, all lights and colorful horses, elephants and covered wagons.  We could not learn any history of the carousel.  Politely, we asked if they had brochures or booklets. 

“No!” she said.  OK.  We thought instead we’d take a ride on the Willamette River on the paddle wheel boat called the Willamette Queen.  They were closed today.  Okey dokey.  Out to EZ Orchards Farms, then, to see if the market was open.  Hurray, it was!  They have bins filled with every make and model of fruit and vegetable imaginable, spices, homemade soaps, giant freshly baked cookies, fresh baked bread, jars of berry preserves, a variety of pressed oils, local wines, arts and crafts. 

EZ Orchard Farms

Oh and a frozen Marienberry pie which is now safely in captivity.  I’m dangerous in markets like these.  I belong on a leash.

Wow!  Somebody stop me!

We gave the kids a great big bear hug and set our clock for a 9:30AM departure in the morning.  At 11:05AM we drove off, heading northward to Blain, WA, four inches from Canada.  Rush hour traffic through Seattle made this a long 8 hour trip.  The park is beautiful with tall shady pines and pickleball courts.  Parked, settled in, hooked up, cold cocktails…. Yup.